Prognostic factors for hypopharyngeal cancer: a univariate and multivariate study of 142 cases

Abstract

Conclusions. Reduction of distant metastases is essential for better survival. Effective adjuvant chemotherapy should be developed for patients with advanced primary disease (T>2) as well as for patients with advanced nodal status (N>0 or PLN>2). Objectives. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for hypopharyngeal cancer. Patients and methods. In all, 142 previously untreated patients were analyzed retrospectively; 75% of the cases were stage III or IV. Surgical resection was administered as primary treatment to 116 of the patients (82%), while 26 patients (18%) underwent primary radiotherapy. Results. The cause-specific 5-year actuarial survival was 46.3%. Distant metastases were the most frequent (23%) cause of failure, followed by local recurrence (15%), and regional recurrence (13%). Cox's regression analysis showed that the significant factors affecting cause-specific survival were N classification, T classification, number of pathological lymph node metastases (PLN), lymphatic invasion, and positive surgical margin. Similarly, T classification and PLN affected distant metastases.

• Treatment failure
• distant metastases
• multivariate analysis
• pharyngolaryngectomy
• radiation